The 2-hectare lot where a 16-year-old church collector was found dead in Barangay Bangkal, Cebu City. | Photo screengrabbed from Jayboy D. Donaire
Cebu City, Philippines — The Department of Education (DepEd) condemned the brutal killing of a 16-year-old high school student, whose body was found in a vacant lot in Barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City on Monday, March 11, 2019.
In a statement posted on their official website on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, DepEd not only condemned what it calls a “barbaric murder” but also called on law enforcers to give justice to the victim, Christine Lee Silawan.
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“DepEd strongly condemns the barbaric murder of a Grade 9 learner found on a vacant lot in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu on March 11, and urges the proper authorities to hasten the arrest of the perpetrators,” the statement said.
DepEd, meanwhile, instructed the DepEd Lapu-Lapu City Division to remind schools to strengthen security measures and implement a curfew among students.
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“DepEd Schools Division Office of Lapu-Lapu City already issued a memorandum reminding all public and private elementary and secondary schools to strengthen their existing rules and policies on school safety,” DepEd said.
“It further enumerated security measures such as: restricting practices for school presentations and other school-related activities until 5 p.m. only; instructing school heads to advise learners to bring packed lunch or snacks instead of buying food outside school premises; ensuring that fully functional CCTV cameras are installed in strategic areas; requesting additional presence of police or barangay tanod in the area; and advising students to always go in groups when out on the streets, especially when it is already dark,” it added.
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The education bureau also extended its condolences to the family of Silawan, who was a student of Maribago High School in Lapu-Lapu City.
Silawan, who also served as a collector in a church, was found lifeless without any clothing on her lower torso, and her face skinned to the bones.
Investigators from the Lapu-Lapu City Police Station suspect that Silawan was raped and killed. /bmjo